Words: Poems Singapore and Beyond by Edwin Thumboo

Anthologies are well-established institutions. They are especially useful in promoting interest in poetry. &Words: Poems Singapore and Beyond attempts to do so through a fresh approach. First, it provides a selection of Singapore poems in English, arranged in four broad sections: Identity, Homeland, Living, Words. Second, the selection includes poems in World Englishes which suggest their wide variety as well as how the shared experience of colonialism and the recovery from it, often generates a number of common responses. They offer opportunities to compare poems. Third, there are translations from Chinese, Malay, and Tamil, reminding readers that Singapore poetry is more than just that in English. Finally a section ‘Four Short Forms: Couplet, Haiku, Quatrain, Pantun’ to encourage teachers and students to try their hand at writing.

&Words features 170 poems by 73 Singapore poets and 35 overseas poets. It is hoped that this selection will add to the growing interest in Singapore literature, particularly its poetry.